Newcastle Climate Change protest July 2008
The Climate Camp protest at Newcastle on 13-14 July 2008 saw significant over-policing, including the use of horses, dogs and officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad. For the first time at a political protest, emergency powers were used. The aim of the protest was to highlight the presence of coal trains entering and leaving Newcastle. More information about the Camp can be found at http://www.climatecamp.org.au/
Police declare Cronulla riot powers
Policing for the protest was heavy, with large numbers of police occupying the train lines which were the subject of the protest.
Copwatch was angered by the high number of reported arrests and the first use of "Cronulla riot powers" at a political protest. These powers, Part 6A of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, allow police to set-up cordons, demand names and addresses with power of arrest for refusing to reply, conduct random searches and to detain people within specified areas for up to 48 hours.
Copwatchers at work
Volunteers with Copwatch were invited by protest organisers to attend the protest and over a dozen volunteers were present on the day. Working in pairs and wearing identifying vests, we worked with other lawyers and law students who also offered support to protesters on the day.
...and more unwelcome contact
Similar touchings and pushing occurred throughout the protest, for no obvious reason. Presumably, this is to provoke a response so that police can justify the presence and expenditure.
Heavy policing
We took detailed notes of police actions on the day, as well as taking photographs and video of police officers. We noted that protesters were often pushed by police for no clear reason and without verbal warning. In this photo, a police office (facing camera) is caught pushing a protester from behind.
Horses
Copwatch liaised with journalists who were present, and we expressed our concern at the use of horses which, as animals, are unpredictable and can step on people's feed. We were also able to explain legal provisions to journalists, such as the "Cronulla Riot Powers," as the police on the ground often do not understand these powers, or explain them in insufficient detail to attending journalists.
Badgeless (and therefore secret) police
Copwatch strongly opposes the practice of police officers refusing to wear identification, which in itself is a brach of the Police Manual. Wearing identification, inadequate as it is, helps identifies police officers about whom members of the public with to make a complaint. Many police officers appear to look the same when wearing caps and dark glasses, thus frustrating the ability to make legitimate complaints. Complaints have been dismissed by the police with the reply that a verbal description is inadequate. Many police officers threaten photographers with arrest if photos are taken of them (although perfectly legal). Complaints to the Ombudsman's office of such threatened arrests are not pursued. Badgeless police who assault members of the public are largely unaccountable, as even their supervising officers at the protest refuse to make a note of or take any action against police offending officers. In 2007, NSW Police Commissioner Scipione promised that members of the Public Order and Riot Squad would always wear identification. Pictured is a member of the Public Order and Riot Squad at the main Newcastle protest who has no identification in the plastic holder (on his right).
...and another
Mounted police officer not wearing identification. A senior police officer pushed the Copwatch volunteer who took this photo away for taking a photograph of this officer.
and another.
Copwatch saw many officers not wearing identification during the protest. The wearing of identification is a requirement of the Police Manual.
A police spokeswoman later denied that police were not wearing identification.
Further reading
More information about the protest can be found at the protest website www.climatecamp.org.au
Also see Protest halts coal train for six hours by Ben Cubby Sydney Morning Herald 14 July 2008 and Protesters Stop Coal-loading again in The Australian 14 July 2008.
Police overstep their powers at protest, letter to the editor by Simon Etherington, Sydney Morning Herald 15 July 2008.
Video clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVlY8SJuYBo
Police horses can move suddenly, thus posing a risk to protesters and bystanders. Human Rights Monitors calls for horses not to be used at protests. See especially the last 20 seconds of video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-XIWg-Plp0
Petty harassment. Police confiscating oranges.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ZaRbLdo8I
Pushing protesters, touching, for no apparent reason.
Also worthwhile to visit http://www.engagemedia.org/ and do a search under "climate camp."
Complaint to Ombudsman regarding emergency lock down powers by NSW Police (followed by Ombudsman's refusal to accept the complaint).
A 13-page letter to the NSW Ombudsman's office was dismissed as providing insufficient details for the NSW Ombudsman to accept the complaint. The letter of complaint and Ombudsman's reply are reproduced below.
| camp_complaint.pdf |
| ombudsmans_response.doc |